I’m a public adjuster in LA, and with the strongest El Niño on record expected to bring heavy rain this winter, there’s one issue I’d check before the storms: sewer backup.

When storms overwhelm city sewer and drain systems, water can back up through toilets, floor drains, and sinks. The problem is that most standard policies don’t cover it, and flood insurance often doesn’t either unless the backup was caused by a flood. So it can fall right between the two.

A few things worth checking now:

• Do you have a sewer/water backup endorsement? It’s usually an inexpensive add-on, but you have to ask for it.

• What’s the limit? These endorsements often have fairly low caps, which may not cover a finished lower level or a full cleanup.

• Is your property at higher risk? Older homes, older city lines, below-grade units, and big trees near the sewer line all raise the odds.

• Consider a backwater valve. It helps keep sewage from flowing back into the property when the system gets overloaded.

A quick call to your agent now is a lot easier than finding out after a storm.

Has anyone here dealt with a sewer backup claim? Was it covered?